The Quiet Central City

Kaien really hadn't known about this. So Yahiko and Konan were from the Rain Country?

He had thought they were from Konoha.

"How strange. Other than fate, there really doesn't seem to be any way to explain it. How could anyone in a place like the Rain Country pay attention to two wandering children?"

Yahiko and Konan felt the same way. It had all been fate, after all. The Rain Country was such a backward place and had just been conquered, so everything was in chaos.

Why would anyone specifically care about two wandering children?

"Speaking of which, Kaien, how did you become General Mifune's disciple? The two of us have discussed countless versions of it in private, but none of them are probably true."

Kaien scratched his head. "It was actually nothing special. I was just more dedicated than usual to practicing the Way of the Samurai, and I progressed much faster than people my age. Over time, word got around."

"It just so happened that the Land of Fire was reforming at the time, and Lord Mifune came to our village with Konoha's Craftsman. Later, he accepted me as his disciple."

Kaien smiled sheepishly. Yahiko and Konan had not expected that Konoha's Craftsman had played a part in Kaien becoming the general's disciple.

Still, with Kaien's talent, even if the Craftsman had not gone to their village to repair the Signal Tower, Kaien would have become famous sooner or later and been accepted as Mifune's disciple.

The three children stood not far from the convoy and chatted for half an hour, until Mifune called out.

Kaien knew it was time to leave.

"Yahiko, Konan, I'm heading back to the Land of Iron. I look forward to seeing you again."

Yahiko bumped fists with Kaien. "All right. The next